Colors & Types of Attire Worn at Muslim Funerals | Our Everyday Life Colors & Types of Attire Worn at Muslim Funerals by Marion Lougheed Muslim funerals often begin in a mosque courtyard or prayer hall. Related Articles Semi-Formal Outfit Ideas In many belief systems, funerals are a time to say goodbye and show respect to the deceased and to support friends and relatives during their time of loss. Muslim funeral customs draw on interpretations of sacred texts, as well as cultural practices. If you are attending a Muslim funeral, you might not know how to behave, or more specifically, what to wear. Some basic guidelines can help you pick out the proper attire. Appropriate Colors Black is an acceptable color for Muslim funeral attire, but it is not required in most branches of the religion. However, dark tones are usually advisable. Lasting Post recommends "conservative clothing and subdued colours" as a rule of thumb. You should reject any outfit with bright patterns or that will stick out in a crowd of quiet hues. Of course, variation exists between different cultural groups and you may find that certain things are acceptable for some Muslims but not for others. Modesty in Attire In some cases, Muslim women do not attend funerals.

When they do, the Muslim Burial Council suggests that they should cover their heads with a scarf and wear opaque, loose-fitting, ankle-length skirts or dresses. Tops should have long sleeves and high necks. For men, pants and shirts will do the job. Many men cover their heads, as well. If in doubt about your outfit, consider the main principle behind the guidelines, which is modesty. If you feel that most people would view an article of clothing as modest, it is probably acceptable for the funeral. Socks Islamic custom requires funeral attendees to take off their footwear before entering the prayer hall. Depending on the climate where you live, it can be a good idea to wear warm, well-padded socks. Out of respect for the solemnity of the occasion, these socks should be free of holes. Funny or flashy socks are not suitable for a Muslim funeral. Your best bet is to wear black, navy, white, or dark gray, so as not to draw unwanted attention to your feet. Stockings or tights are okay for women, as long as they also meet these requirements. Clothing During the Mourning Period After the death, 40 days are set aside as a mourning period.

During this time, the deceased's family members dress only in black. If the person who has passed away was a married man, his wife continues to wear black clothing for a full year. Non-family members do not have to wear any specific type of clothing throughout the mourning period, but if you are visiting someone closed to the deceased, you should avoid anything too flamboyant or jovial. References Colours in different cultures By Felicia Bratu Some time ago, before the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, I heard a joke about colours: somebody informed USA officials that the Russians were thinking of painting the entire moon red to show their supremacy in space. Everyone was expecting to see the Americans getting angry over this, but instead they were very calm about it. “Ok, no problem, let them paint the moon red.” To which they added “We’ll just write Coca-Cola on top of it and everybody will know who the best is…” Same colour, two different meanings: red is perceived as the colour of communism and Russia used to be a communist country, but red is also the colour of Coca-Cola, which is a very well-known symbol of the United States. Colours are important in communications. Feelings, ideas, and emotions can be expressed with colours.

When designing websites or brochures for International markets, colours are crucial. Not paying attention to them could result in expensive and often embarrassing problems… And you would want to make sure your website or advertisement campaign will be well received in the countries you target. Just think of the impact you’d have by wearing all red to cheer for one of Detroit Red Wings’ rivals… You wouldn’t want to be there… You’d be detested by the entire audience. The same could happen with your website. Make sure your website has the right colour when entering into different markets. The wrong colour could transform the best designed website and best ad promotion into a nightmare. In May of this year, a few large corporations with International websites had changed the colour of their Chinese home pages to black to pay respect to all Chinese people affected by the Sichuan earthquake. Although white is the colour of mourning in China, this was still a very touching gesture to pay respect to the more than 60,000 people who had died. In 1999, Crayola changed the “indian red” colour name to “chestnut” in response to educators who felt some children wrongly perceived the crayon colour was intended to represent the skin colour of Native Americans.

The name originated from a reddish-brown pigment found near India commonly used in fine artist oil paint. During its 1994 launch campaign, one of the well-known European mobile phone companies – Orange – had to change its ads in Northern Ireland. “The future’s bright, the future’s Orange.” This was because in the North the term Orange suggests the Orange Order. The implied message is that the future is bright, the future is Protestant, loyalist… Here are a few things about colours you might find useful: Red: Red is the colour of love in most cultures: Chinese brides wear red for their wedding, and red roses are the most common gift for St. Valentine’s Day. Red is also the colour of communism – the flags of China and Vietnam are red. The Former Soviet Union’s flag used to be red too. The army of the Soviet Union was known as the “Red Army”. In Christianity, green and red are associated with Christmas. There is an Easter tradition to colour eggs red – red in this case represents the blood of Christ. Satan is also most of the time represented by the colour red in icons and popular culture. On the other hand, Santa Claus wears red and white for Christmas.

In China, red paper and red envelopes are frequently used to wrap gifts of money. Though, on the negative side, obituaries are traditionally written in red ink, and to write someone’s name in red signals that you are either cutting them out of your life, or that they have died. Red is also used to indicate emergency and warnings. Red is the colour for all Stop signs around the World. However, the first Stop sign had black letters on a white background until 1924 when white was replaced with yellow. It wasn’t until 954 that all stop signs became white and red. Green: In North America, because of the colour of the United States dollar bill, green is the colour of wealth and money. Also, the colour green is always associated with nature. In my native country, Romania, people with green eyes are seen as very deceptive people. In some of Shakespeare’s plays, envy is associated with the colour green. Green is considered the traditional colour of Islam. It is also the national colour of Egypt. But don’t create packaging or mail packages in green: It’s not well-received. In some Asian cultures the colour green is often used as a symbol of sickness.

Green is a symbol of Ireland; green is a strong trend in the Irish holiday St. Patrick’s Day. White: While Westerns see white as the colour of purity and innocence, in some Asian cultures ( China, Vietnam, and Korea), white is the colour of death and mourning. In India, people wear white after the death of a family member. White is the traditional colour of bridal dresses in Western cultures. A woman wearing white will be seen as a bride on a Western website, and as a person in mourning on an Eastern website. White is also the colour of snow and winter. Some associate snow with Christmas, forgetting that countries from the Southern hemisphere don’t have snow during Christmas time. A white pigeon is an international sign of peace; a white flag is an international sign of surrender. Blue: China: immortality; workers’ uniforms; blue-coloured gifts are associated with death Hinduism: the colour of Krishna Egypt: dark blue is a colour of mourning. Black: Black is the colour of mourning in Western cultures; Black is also the most common colour used for clothing for formal occasions; black is also worn by priests.

In the Japanese culture, until the nineteenth century, some women used to dye their teeth black because it was thought that black teeth would make a woman look beautiful. Orange: The colours orange and black are the colours of Halloween because orange is the colour of pumpkins and black is the colour of night and darkness. Orange is the national colour of the Netherlands, referring to the royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau. Orange is the brand used by France Telecom for its mobile network operator and Internet service provider subsidiaries. Visual Color Symbolism Chart by Culture Visual Color Symbolism Chart by Culture Visual Color Symbolism Chart by Culture What Different Colors Mean in Different Cultures By Jeremy Girard Updated July 12, 2016. Color is an important part of any design , but if you make a bad choice of colors your design can say something different than you intend it to. How colors are perceived depends a lot on the culture a person was born into. With the chart below, you can get a better sense of how the colors you choose affect your customers in various cultures. This chart lists colors and meanings that various different cultures associate with those colors. Note that in some cases, the color is also associated with another “thing”.

For example, a “white dove” in western cultures symbolizes peace. Also, sometimes it’s the color in combination with another color that creates the association, such as red and green symbolizing Christmas in the West. This information is noted below. China: Good luck, celebration, summoning Cherokees: Success, triumph. Represents the East. Hebrew: Sacrifice, sin South Africa: Color of mourning Russia: Bolsheviks and Communism Eastern: Worn by brides, happiness and prosperity Western: Excitement, danger, love, passion, stop, Christmas (with green), Valentine’s Day Astrology: Gemini Feng Shui: Yang, fire, good luck, money, respect, recognition, vitality Psychology: Stimulates brain wave activity, increases heart rate, increases blood pressure Roses: Love, respect — red and yellow together means gaiety, joviality Stained Glass (Dante): Divine love, the Holy Spirit, courage, self-sacrifice, martyrdom. A warm, active color. Color and cultural design considerations | Webdesigner Depot Color and cultural design considerations By Carrie Cousins • Posted Jun.

11, 2012 • Reading time: 8 minutes The world seems to be getting a little smaller each day thanks to online communities and social networking. In turn, this “world-wide community” has created an international readership for a variety of websites. Designers must weigh carefully the messages they send to that potentially broad user-base. One aspect of design that can have far reaching and sometimes unintentional effects on readers is color. Colors have a variety of associations within North American culture alone, and can mean something radically different to Japanese or Middle Eastern readers, where color meanings are frequently much more specific and defined. It is important to understand how color associations vary from culture to culture, and within different possible audiences, when planning a website. Understanding color can be a tricky challenge and many color meanings can almost seem contradictory — particularly in the West, where color meanings are extremely broad. When working with color, remember to think about context and how color is used with other elements such as text and photos. Here we’ll look at a rainbow of basic hues and what meanings people of different cultures may infer from them. Red Western cultures (North America and Europe) Red is the color of passion and excitement.

It has both positive and negative associations — danger, love and excitement and when used with connection with the former Eastern block, it represents communism. Red is also associated with power and has some religious undertones when used with green to represent Christmas. The multiple, and varying, Western associations with the color are a combination of different meanings from other cultures. Eastern and Asian cultures Red is the color of happiness, joy and celebration. It is often the color worn by brides on their wedding day because it is thought to bring luck, long life and happiness. It is also a color often associated with Chinese restaurants in the United States, because of the associations with luck and happiness. Specifically in India, the color relates to purity and in Japan it is associated with life, but also anger or danger. Latin America In Mexico and some other Latin American nations, red is the color of religion when used with white. Middle East Red evokes feelings of danger and caution. Some also consider it the color of evil. Around the world Red is worn to celebrate the Chinese New Year to bring luck, good fortune and prosperity. Orange Western cultures (North American and Europe) Orange is the color of harvest and autumn.

In the United States, for example, the color signifies the fall season beginning in September with the start of school though to Halloween and Thanksgiving in late November. It is also associated with warmth and citrus fruits. In The Netherlands, where it is considered the national color, the most common use of orange is to signify royalty. Eastern and Asian cultures The hue, especially saffron (a yellowish orange that matches the color of the plant) is sacred in Indian cultures. In Japan, orange tones are symbolic of courage and love. Latin America Orange is considered sunny; it is also associated with the earth in some countries because of the reddish-orange ground color. Middle East Orange is associated with mourning and loss. Around the world The color can also have religious associations: It is the color of gluttony in Christianity. Yellow Western cultures (North America and Europe) The bright cheery nature of yellow is the predominant meaning in most Western nations. It is associated with warmth (the sun), summer and hospitality. In the United States, specifically, the color is associated with transportation — taxis and school buses are yellow as are many different types of street signage.

Tea maker Lipton, for example, uses yellow to market worldwide but there are changes in what colors people are wearing in advertising material if you toggle between sites aimed at different countries. In Germany, yellow is associated with envy (which is described as green in most other Western cultures). Eastern and Asian cultures Members of the royal ruling class often wear this hue and the color is considered sacred and imperial. In Japan, that definition is expanded to include courage (which is expected of rulers) and is the color of commerce in India. Latin America On the contrary, yellow is associated with death and mourning in many Latin cultures. Middle East Though in Egypt, yellow is most closely associated with mourning (in much the same way as Latin American nations), it is more widely connected to happiness and prosperity in the Middle East. The associations with yellow are closely related to those of Western cultures. Around the world In many African nations, only people with high rank in society can wear yellow. The more gold variations of the color are universally associated with money, quality and success in most world cultures. Blue Western cultures (North America and Europe) The most popular color for bank logos is blue because it represents trust and authority. The color is also masculine and used to represent the birth of a boy.

Blue is also considered to be calming, soothing and peaceful although it can also be associated with depression or sadness. Eastern and Asian cultures The hue is ever-lasting in its association with immortality. In Indian culture blue is the color of Krishna — a central figure in Hinduism and one of the most popular Hindu gods. Many Indian sports teams use the color as a symbol of strength. Unlike in the U.S., where blue is associated with men, it is considered a feminine color in China. Latin America Because of the high Catholic population of Central and South America, blue is often associated with religion as the color of the Virgin Mary’s robe or headscarf. Moreover, blue can cause an emotional stir because of its association with mourning. It is also the color of trust and serenity in Mexico, and is the color of soap in Colombia. Middle East Blue is safe and protecting. It is the color associated with Heaven, spirituality and immortality. Around the world In Thailand, blue is the color associated with Friday. Blue is often considered the most positive and safest color for a global audience. Skype, the international web-based telephone company, uses a blue color scheme for each of its sites around the world.

Green Western cultures (North America and Europe) Green is the color of the Irish (think St. Patrick’s Day and it is also the national color of Ireland) and represents luck throughout most of the West. Green also refers to nature, the environment and protection of environmental causes, such as “green business” or “green household cleansers.” Green is also associated with Christmas, when used in combination with red. It is also the symbol of progress — green means “go” — but can also represent of envy. Eastern and Asian cultures Green is the color of nature and new life in much of the East. It also represents fertility and youth. However, it can have equally negative connotations: green is the color of exorcism and infidelity; in China, wearing a green hat is associated with cheating on your spouse. Latin America In many Latin and South American cultures, green is the color of death. Middle East For the majority of the Middle East the strongest association with green is that of Islam. It represents strength, fertility, luck and wealth. Around the world In the United States, green is the color of money and is often associated with jealousy. Green, superficially olive green, is the color of almost every active military in the world.

Purple Western cultures (North America and Europe) Purple is the color of royalty and is often used for the cloaks and robes of kings and queens in modern movies. It is associated with wealth and fame. It is also symbolic of modernism and progression. Specifically in the United States, it is a color of honor; the military’s highest award is considered to be the Purple Heart. Eastern and Asian cultures Purple is also a color of wealth and nobility in the East. The exception is in Thailand, where purple represents mourning, where a widow wears the color after the death of her husband. Latin America The theme of sorrow is also evident in South American nations such as Brazil, where purple is associated with mourning and death. Middle East Wealth and purple are synonymous. In Egypt, the definition of purple also extends to include virtue. Around the world A lighter shade, amethyst, is considered sacred to Buddha and rosaries are often made from this purple stone in Tibet. Pink Western cultures (North American and Europe) Pink is the color of femininity and is used to signify the birth of a daughter. It also represents sweetness (it is often the color used for cake or candy shops), childhood or fun.

Eastern and Asian cultures Pink is also considered feminine in the East where it also signifies marriage. In Korea, however, the color is more closely associated with trust. For many years, the Chinese did not recognize the color; it was finally brought into the culture due to increasing Western influence. Latin America Pink has much looser associations and is often used as a color for buildings, consequently it can have associations with architecture. Middle East Pink does not have any distinct meaning in Middle Eastern cultures. Around the world Prison holding cells around the world have been painted pink to help reduce behavioral problems because the color can be mentally stimulating whilst simultaneously being somewhat calming. Brown Western cultures (North America and Europe) Brown is earthy but can be associated with either health or barrenness. In the United States, it is the color most often used for packaging (think of the highly successful transport company UPS) and food containers. Brown is stable, dependable and wholesome, as association which comes from the color of grains. Eastern and Asian cultures The most common color association is that of mourning. In Chinese horoscopes, brown is used to represent earth. Latin America Contrary to the uses of brown in North America, the color has the opposite effect in South America.

Brown actually discourages sales in Colombia and is considered disapproving in Nicaragua. Middle East Brown is harmonious with earth and comfort. Around the world The meanings associated with brown may be among the most universal in the rainbow; it is frequently called a non-color because of its neutral tendencies and general appeal in design. Note how brown is used on the Washtennaw Community College website – the neutral color is inviting to potential students of almost any origin. Black Western cultures (North America and Europe) Black is the color of finality, death, formality and mourning in North American and European cultures. It is also considered powerful and strong and can imply control or force. (Consider the strong look associated with using reverse type.) Eastern and Asian cultures Black can be connected to masculinity and is the color for boys in China. It also represents wealth, heath and prosperity. In Thailand and Tibet though, black is most closely associated with evil. Latin America Latin cultures also associate the color (or strictly speaking, tone) with masculinity and is the preferred color for men’s clothing. It is also linked to mourning. Middle East Black has somewhat contrasting but symbiotic meanings – it represents both rebirth and mourning. Evil and mystery are also associated with black.

Around the world Black is associated with magic and the unknown in almost all cultures. White Western cultures (North America and Europe) White is the color of purity and peace. It is often associated with weddings and is the color most often worn by brides. White is also clean and sterile and used to represent hospitals and even holiness. In Italy however, white is used for funerals and traditionally, white Chrysanthemums are placed at grave sites. Eastern and Asian cultures White is also the color of death in the East. It is used at funerals and represents sterility, mourning, unhappiness and misfortune. Latin America White has many of the same associations as in North America and is connected to purity and peace. Middle East Both purity and mourning are associated with white. In Iran for example, that definition expands to include holiness and peace and in Egypt wearing white is a symbol of a person’s high ranking status. Around the world The white flag is the universal symbol of truce. By Carrie Cousins Carrie Cousins is a freelance writer with more than 10 years of experience in the communications industry, including writing for print and online publications, and design and editing. You can connect with Carrie on Twitter @carriecousins .

More articles by Carrie Cousins Popular posts Cultural Color Cultural Color Cultural Meanings of Color and Color Symbolism An understanding of cultural color and symbolism is essential to anyone doing business with other countries and other societies. These associations with color have been a part of many societies for centuries and you must be aware of both the positive and the negative implications of using particular colors when marketing to these societies. With the advent of the World Wide Web, there is a narrowing of the differences in meanings of colors between different cultures and countries. However, if you are marketing to a particular ethnic group it is wise to take into account their color associations to maximise your impact. By mixing appropriate amounts of different colours however you can often neutralize inherent negative cultural connotations. Symbolic Color Meanings Throughout the World The following is a basic list of some symbolic color meanings throughout the world. It is by no means a comprehensive list. I suggest you do your own research about the country or culture you are working with, to establish what colors are currently acceptable. Times change and old associations may be slowly altered over the years. Western cultures have adopted some Eastern color uses while some Eastern cultures have adopted Western ideas. The Internet has allowed people to learn about other cultures and to adopt what they like from those cultures.

Therefore, the following meanings are traditional and not necessarily in current use in these cultures. Cultural Color Meanings of Red: Western: symbol of joy when combined with white China: the color of good luck and celebration vitality, happiness, long life used as a wedding color used in many ceremonies from funerals to weddings used for festive occasions traditionally worn on Chinese New Year to bring luck and prosperity India: color of purity, fertility, love, beauty wealth, opulence and power a sign of a married woman also color of fear and fire Thailand: associated with the Bolsheviks and Communism, means beautiful in Russian language often used in marriage ceremonies Australian Aborigines: represents the land and earth ceremonial color Colors of Mourning | The Definitive Funeral Planning and Information Resource Home | Editorial | Colors of Mourning Colors of Mourning by T-Knox White is also the color of mourning in Ethiopia. This funeral took place in Yeha, a town in northern Ethiopia. As there are many beliefs when it comes to mourning, the colors of mourning are just as vibrant. Black: At Japanese and Buddhist services many will attend in black attire. Bright colors, like reds are inappropriate for any mourning occasion. However, you may wear a string of white pearls.

Throughout Europe wearing black is tradition. This custom is derived from the Roman Empire. Although the color black is recognized throughout the west as a color of mourning, around the world black is associated with evil and mystery. Perhaps it is our subconscious inclination that death is evil, and the tradition of wearing black to funerals resonates today. On the contrary people are less persistent when it comes to wearing black at a funeral. Funeral traditions are not as bound and there is freedom when it comes to remembrance. For some people black is seen as too somber for the event, and they want to liven the mood of the service by wearing brighter colors. Widows may wear black for the rest of their lives. Predominantly in Russia, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Portugal and Spain this is practised. For some time after the death family will wear black, for as long as two years. This followed by people who have immigrated to the United Staes as well. White: China holds a spectrum of colors when it comes to mourning. At the burial, people who attend the funeral may be given a white towel to wipe away any perspiration. The white is a sign of thanks.

Following the funeral everyone who attended must burn the clothes they wore to the service. This precaution is taken to prevent bad luck connected with the death. During the period of mourning family of the deceased wears a piece of cloth on their arm for 100 days. A color of the cloth tells the relationship to the deceased. The children of the deceased will wear a black cloth, blue by the grandchildren, and green by the great grandchildren. Families that hold tight to tradition may wear the cloth for nearly three years following the death in the family. Seven days after the death, the departed’s spirit is believed to return home. So the spirit does not get lost the family will place a red plaque outside of their home. At the wake, no one may wear anything red, as red is a color of happiness. Besides black clothing, in medieval Europe royalty would also wear white. Moreover at a Hindu funeral everyone wears white clothing. However, in India brown is also a color of mourning. White is a color of mourning as it is also the color of purity. Many will wear white throughout the mourning period. Widows in India are permitted to only wearing white for the rest of their lives. White is also the signature color scheme at any funeral.

Despite how Western society interprets white, most of the Eastern world shares the same meaning of white. In Korea and the Middle East it is the norm that white symbolizes time of mourning and funerals. It is an interesting predicament that theorists find white relays the message of clarity. It could be thought that once someone has passed away there may be clarity in the peoples’ lives, or lack there of. Black remains identified with death and mourning. Yellow: Black and white are not the only colors associated with mourning. In Egypt yellow is the color of mourning. Egyptians saw the sun and gold were yellow in color and had lasting qualities. Masks of mummies and tombs were often painted gold. This was good sentiment to send the deceased into the afterlife. Mexico and Ethiopia’s color of mourning is yellow as well. Blue: Whereas in Korea blue is their color of mourning, countering Western culture’s meaning of depression and sadness. Purple: In Thailand widows will wear purple when mourning the death of their spouse. Purple was carried out as a mourning colour in Brazil as well, alongside black dress. It is considered bad taste when one wears purple when not attending a funeral or related service. Similarly for many Catholics purple shares the same meaning.

Grey: Women in Papua New Guinea are covered in a light clay from head to toe when mourning the loss of her husband. Derived from this practise it has been said that the country’s mourning color is grey, the color of the clay. Read more: Symbolism of Color: Using Color for Meaning Color in Symbolism | Art Lessons in Color | Color Matters Graphs ] What do Colors Symbolize? Colors hold significance for people around the world. Not only do colors influence emotion, but they also hold meaning in religion and various cultures. On this page you will get answers to questions like, "What does the color red symbolize?" This question is answered differently depending on where you are located in the world. If you don't see what you are looking for on this page, please put your questions in the comments section at the bottom of this page. Western world: Traffic lights: Red means stop, yellow means caution, and green means go. Yellow signs also warn drivers of upcoming curves, pedestrian crossings, and animal crossings. Patriotism: Most, if not all countries have a flag. The colors of each flag are usually seen as patriotic. Red, white, and blue symbolizes patriotism in the U.S.A.

Holidays: Red and green are favorite Christmas colours. Colors of Autumn such as orange, brown, yellow and red are associated with Thanksgiving with black and orange associated with Halloween. Pastel colors are used for Easter. Because flowers are a common gift for Mother's Day, colors such as yellow, pink, and red are used frequently. Color Symbolism Chart Red: Excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed, strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, all things intense and passionate, sincerity, happiness (Only in Japan) Evil or sadness- Just like in the western world- black. Emotions: Blue is seen as conservative. Red is power and aggression. Brighter colors such as yellow and orange represent warmth not only with emotions but also with temperature. Cool colors are blue, green, black or any color with a dark shade. When someone is feeling down or depressed, it is said they are feeling "blue." When someone is angry they "see red." When someone is seen to be afraid or "chicken" they are called "yellow." Ecology: Obviously green is the major color symbolizing ecology.

The new phrase for people or companies who find ways to cut back on electricity, fuel, or things that damage the environment is "going green." Phrases: When something is seen as opposite, extreme, or a firm position, it is said to be "black or white." When something is not clear or not in a firm position, it is said to be a "gray area." The blues describe a form of music. Religion: Colours are also used in religious ceremonies or represent aspects of religion. Native Americans include colors in religious ceremonies. The Navajo Nation considers four colors to be important: Turquoise, white, yellow, and black. These colors represent four sacred mountains. The Apache Nation also considers four colors to be important: Green, white, yellow and black. These are sacred colors of the white mountain and are also used in government. The Iowa Nation also considers four colors to be sacred: Black, yellow, red and white. They represent direction, their flag, and what they consider to be four races of man. [ 1 ] In Tibetan Buddhism, blue is the color of Vairochana, a celestial Buddha, whose image is the immensity of sky blue.

[ 2 ] Buddhist monks wear orange (specifically the color saffron) robes primarily due to tradition. That was the least expensive color dye at the time and that is what they continued to wear. The robes themselves symbolize "simplicity and detachment of materialism." [ 3 ] Green is the traditional color of Islam. The Islamic flag is green. Green is also mentioned in the Quran as the color of garments, cushions and carpets in paradise. [ 4 ] In Hinduism, saffron is their most sacred color. Saffron represents fire that burns our impurities. Yellow represents knowledge and learning. The color green of the Maharashtra represents life and happiness. The color blue is like infinity like the vastness of the oceans and sky. [ 5 ] In Christianity, the color red symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ and of sacrifice. White represents the body of Christ. Black represents sin in Catholic liturgy. Gray is the color of ash and this represents repentance in Catholicism. Purple is the liturgical color for the seasons of Advent and Lent. Heaven is described as having a lot of gold in buildings and streets. White and silver are used in liturgy during Christmas and Easter.

[ 6 ] The Bible says that many in the Middle East and Rome valued colored gems and jewelry. Red and white coral was used for beads and ornaments. Red rubies and light blue turquoise were given as gifts. (Ezekiel 27:16) Use in Medicine and Therapy: Colors are sometimes used in therapy (Also called Chromotherapy). Colors have a huge effect on people who have brain disorders or who are emotionally troubled. The color blue has a calming effect on many people and lowers respiration and blood pressure. Red has the opposite effect. Some therapists use green to sooth and relax emotionally disturbed people who suffer from anxiety or depression. Some claim that the color violet is good for migraines and in "cases of cellulitis caused by a poor elimination, heaviness or sluggishness after eating, disorders of the spleen, bladder and kidney." [ 7 ] Yellow helps energize people and relieves depression. Color in World Culture Color means many different things to different people and cultures. We all have our own favorite colors. People like different colors like they like different foods. Color also represents feelings, people, countries, cultures, and color symbolism. In the western world, the color red is seen frequently of symbolizing anger or aggression.

Some car insurance companies charge more for red cars because some of the owners of red cars are more aggressive or take more risks. Black: The History of a Color - Black-- favorite color of priests and penitents, artists and ascetics, fashion designers and fascists- has always stood for powerfully opposed ideas: authority and humility, sin and holiness, rebellion and conformity, wealth and poverty, good and bad. In this illustrated book, the acclaimed author of " Blue " now tells the fascinating social history of the color black in Europe. Color and Meaning: Art, Science, and Symbolism - Does color have an effect on our feelings? The phenomenon of color is examined in new ways in John Gage's latest book. His study is informed by the conviction that color is a contingent, historical occurrence whose meaning, like language, lies in the particular contexts in which it is experienced and interpreted. Veiled Brightness: A History of Ancient Maya Color - Veiled Brightness reconstructs what color meant to the ancient Maya, a set of linked peoples and societies who flourished in and around the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and Central America.

By using insights from archaeology, linguistics, art history, and conservation, the book charts over two millennium of color use in a region celebrated for its aesthetic refinement and high degree of craftsmanship. Pantone Guide to Communicating with Color - This authoritative guide presents hundreds of color combinations and color principles needed to create effective designs. Every lesson is demonstrated by example, enabling designers of all specialties and levels of experience to make the best color choices for every type of design. Lessons in Color The Meaning of Colour in Web Design The Meaning of Colours For most of us, a rainbow of colours envelopes our lives. Over 80% of visual information is related to colour.¹ What colours and combinations of colours stimulate people to be interested in different things? What colours make us feel pleasure or disapproval, hot or cold, to be attracted or repelled, our appetite stimulated or suppressed? Many reactions to colour are instinctual, universal and cross cultural boundaries. "Colors also convey messages that go beyond ethnic, racial, or gender boundaries.

According to a 1997 survey by Cooper Marketing Group, Oak Park, IL, power is represented by the color scarlet red for 25% of respondents, black for 17% and bright violet blue for 13%. More than 55% of those surveyed chose one of these three colors out of 100 colors. Fragility was most represented by pale pink (27%), white (9%), and pale lavender (9%)."² Other associations with colours are specific to a culture or regions. Mixing appropriate amounts of different colours however can neutralise inherent negative cultural connotations. Web design which achieves successful marketing results is sensitive to the cultural, instinctual and iconic meanings of colour in relation to the product being promoted and considers the cultural backgrounds and gender of the targeted clientele. Avoiding the extremes of sheer garishness and boredom, effective design displays symphonic colour arrangements of shades, tints, tones and complementarities to tantalise and maintain interest. Adding textures too can alter colours - a roughly textured surface makes a colour seem darker, while a smooth surface lightens the same colour. Colour trends may defy instinctual, cultural and iconic constraints - for example, the recent craze for vivid lime green.

As Jill Morton says: "Psychologically, the 'anti-aesthetic' colors may well capture more attention than those on the aesthetically-correct list. History clearly demonstrates that this has been a prevalent trend in art since the turn of the 20th century, when Dada's urinals and snow shovels put an end to the era of Matisse and French Impressionism."³ Red European : Danger (stop signs), love (hearts), excitement (for sale signs) China : Traditional bridal colour, good luck, celebration, happiness, joy, vitality, long life, summoning, the direction South. Chinese saying goes "when something is so red, it is purple" - red purple brings luck and fame.

Japan : life Hinduism : Saffron (peachy orange) is a sacred color Feng Shui : Yang, Earth, strengthens concentration, purpose, organization Orange : warmth, energy, balance, enthusiasm, vibrancy, vitality, expansiveness, flamboyance, excitement, business goals, property deals, ambition, career, goals, general success, justice, legal matters, selling, action, attention-grabbing, the sun, friendly, inviting, intense, joy, strength, endurance, steadfastness, tropics, quick movement, wealth of the mind and knowledge, charity, growing things, fascination, friendliness, happiness, beginnings, heat, creativity, autumn, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, courage, earth, mental and appetite stimulatant, emotional lift, assurance, social force, health, warmth, attractiveness, cheerfulness, mood-lightening, uninhibited, independence, amiability, constructiveness, self-assuredness, cheap, low-budget, fun kids colour, youth In restaurants, as orange is an appetite stimulant, orange decor encourages sales. Less passionate than red, orange still increases oxygen supply to the brain, stimulating mental activity. Popular amongst youth. Orange backgrounds help images seem closer and larger, but avoid over-use.

Useful for highlighting important elements, promoting food products and toys. "As we turned our sights to orange, substantial research (including the data gathered at The Global Color Survey at and the Pantone Consumer Color Preference Study® dated June 1996) documented that orange is one of Americans' least favorite colors. ...

In 1991, Forbes called attention to orange's mundane associations in its December 23 article, 'Does orange mean cheap?' Yes, it does."4 Dark orange : autumn, deceit, distrust Red orange : desire, sexuality, pleasure, domination, aggression, thirst for action Bright orange : tangy citrus, health Pale orange : apricot, coral, peach and melon are sophisticated Buddhism : wisdom Feng Shui : Yang, Earth, auspicious, sunbeams, warmth, motion Yellow : sun, intelligence, light, accelerated learning, memory, logical imagination, social energy, cooperation, organisation, breaking mental blocks, sunshine, joy, happiness, intellect, energy, cheerfulness, optimism, purity, enthusiasm, warmth, honour, loyalty, mental force, clarity, perception, understanding, wisdom, dishonesty, betrayal, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, disease, weakness, caution, cowardice, follower, curiosity, mellowness, confidence, humour, dreams, creativity, desire to improve, action, idealism, optimism, imagination, hope, summer, philosophy, uncertainty, restlessness, glory, enlightenment Yellow stimulates mental activity, generates muscle energy and attracts attention - it is the colour most visible to the human eye.

Thus yellow objects move to the forefront. Students who study in yellow rooms do better in exams. Cheerful yellow can be used to promote food especially in combination with other fruit and vegetable tones, children's and leisure products and is best used as a highlight. With overuse, yellow can be disturbing and promote anxiety. Babies cry more in yellow rooms. Yellow against black denotes a warning ... the sting of the bee. Yellow is not a practical colour to use when selling expensive items to men ... they perceive it as an untrustworthy and childish ... and avoid yellow if you wish to evoke safety and stability. Care is needed with shades of yellow as they can lose their warmth and appear dirty.

Dull yellow : caution, decay, sickness, jealousym aging Light yellow : intellect, freshness, and joy Ivory/cream : quiet, pleasantness, calm, understated elegance, purity, softness, more rich and warm than white Worldwide : 'safe' colour Feng Shui : Yin, Water, calm, love, healing, relaxation, peace, trust, adventure, exploration Blue : good fortune, communication, wisdom, protection, spiritual inspiration, calmness, reassurance, gentleness, fluidity, water, sea, creativity, peace, calming, higher thoughts, mystery, sky, formality, travel, devotion, progress, quiet wisdom, freedom.

betterment of humanity, love, trust, loyalty, intelligence, reassurance, artistry, compassion, inner strength, devotion, depression, sadness, tranquility, stability, unity, truth, understanding, confidence, acceptance, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, comfort, cold, technology, devotion, harmony, depth, faith, heaven, piety, sincerity, precision, intellect, sadness, consciousness, speech, messages, ideas, sharing, cooperation, idealism, sincerity, empathy, relaxation, affection, inspiration, friendship, patience, contemplation, infinity, harmony, non-threatening, dependability Some believe blue slows the metabolism and suppresses the appetite. As it does not require the eye to focus, images and objects recede in blue backgrounds. With overuse, can create feelings of cold. Although also popular with women, blue is the predominant favourite colour of males and is suited to web sites involving and promoting technology, medical products, cleanliness, air, sky, water, sea and automotives. Blue is the favourite colour of more than half of the world's people - it is the colour least disliked by most cultures. High impact designs can be created with combinations of blue, red and yellow.

Combinations of light and dark blues can create feelings of trust. Pale Blue : ethereal, delicate, calming, health, healing, tranquility, understanding, softness In combination with pinks and pale yellows, creates the image of spring. Aqua : freshness, pristine, vigour, movement, dramatic, confidence, strength, individualism, eccentricity, humour, fearlessness, festivity Royal Blue : richness, superiority, cold Dark blue : depth, expertise, stability, credibility (especially with gold), intellect, wisdom, corporate colour, warmth, knowledge, power, integrity, seriousness, knowledge, health, decisiveness, law, order, logic, dependability, serenity Combining dark and lighter shades of blue creates a conservative and sophisticated look.

Eastern : Funerals Feng Shui : Yang, Metal, death, mourning, ancestal spirits, ghosts, poise, confidence White : spirituality, goddess, peace, higher self, purity, virginity, reverence, simplicity, cleanliness, humility, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good, sterility, cold, clinical, sterility, clarity, perfection, innocence, virginity, goodness, light, fairness, safety, positivity, faith, coolness, charity, successful innovations, union, self-sacrifice, holiness, feminine divinity, pristine, chastity, positivity All white rooms can be uncomfortable with a stark atmosphere. White is useful for a background or accent colour as it highlights other colours. White is perceived by the eye as a brilliant colour. White can indicate simplicity with high-tech products and safety and cleanliness with medical products. Silver Feng Shui : Yin, Metal, trustworthiness, romance .

Silver : glamous, distinguishment, high tech, industrial, graceful aging, telepathy, clairvoyance, clairaudience, psychometry, intuition, dreams, astral energies, female power, communication, goddess, ornate riches, sleekness, modernity To create a high-tech look, use silver with other colours. Silver works well combined with gold and white to promote a feeling of control and power. Silver and other reflectors are strong eye attractors and are associated with life-giving water.

Grey Feng Shui : Yin, Metal, dead, dull, indefinite Grey : security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring, practicality, professional, sophisticated, durability, quality, quiet, conservativeness, gloominess, sadness European : Funerals, death, mourning, rebellion, cool, restfulness China : Colour for young boys Thailand : Bad luck, unhappiness, evil Judaism : Unhappiness, bad luck, evil Australian Aboriginals : colour of the people, ceremonial ochre Feng Shui : Yin, Water, money, income, career success, emotional protection, power, stability, bruises, evil Black : protection, repelling negativity, binding, shapeshifting, power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, classy, wealth, power, mystery, fear, evil, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger, underground, modern music, space, high quality, bad luck, formality, reservedness, dignity, elegance, secretiveness, fear of the unknown, night, emptiness, dirtiness, sophistication, strength of character, dramatic, authority, prestige, grief, anger, reliability, strong

, classic, strength, anti-establishment, modernism, serious .

Black is an excellent technical colour and it assist targetting a sophisticated high-end market or a youth market to add mystery. Over a large area, black can be depressing. Though black backgrounds can enhance perspective and depth, they diminish readibility of text. Useful for web sites for art and photography to help other colours to vibrate. To share your thoughts with the author of this article about the meaning of colours, please feel free to register and post on the Sibagraphics blog . Sylvia Posadas, Sibagraphics © 2004, 2006, 2009. Bibliography ² Kathy Lamancusa, 2003, ³ Jill Morton, 2000, 4 Ibid. 5 Jacci Howard Bear, Useful Color Links

Question: What is the colour of mourning in most Moslem countries
Answer: White